Main Entry: ¹flat

Pronunciation: \ˈflat\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): flat·ter; flat·test

Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse flatr; akin to Old High German flaz flat, and probably to Greek platys broad — more at place

Date: 14th century

1 a : lying at full length or spread out upon the ground : prostrate b : utterly ruined or destroyed c : resting with a surface against something
2 a : having a continuous horizontal surface b : being or characterized by a horizontal line or tracing without peaks or depressions <a flat EEG>
3 : having a relatively smooth or even surface
4 : arranged or laid out so as to be level or even
5 a : having the major surfaces essentially parallel and distinctly greater than the minor surfaces <a flat piece of wood> b of a shoe heel : very low and broad
6 a : clearly unmistakable <a flat denial> b (1) : not varying : fixed <a flat rate> (2) : having no fraction either lacking or in excess : exact <in a flat 10 seconds> (3) of a frequency response : not varying significantly throughout its range
7 a : lacking in animation, zest, or vigor : dull b : lacking flavor : tasteless c : lacking effervescence or sparkle <flat ginger ale> d : commercially inactive; also : characterized by no significant rise or decline from one period to another <sales were flat> e of a tire : lacking air : deflated f chiefly British of a battery : dead 3c, discharged
8 a (1) of a tone : lowered a half step in pitch (2) : lower than the proper pitch b of the vowel a : pronounced as in bad or bat
9 a : having a low trajectory b of a tennis stroke : made so as to give little or no spin to the ball
10 of a sail : taut
11 a : uniform in hue or shade b : having little or no illusion of depth c of a photograph or negative : lacking contrast d of lighting conditions : lacking shadows or contours e : free from gloss <a flat paint> f : two-dimensional 3 <flat characters>
12 : of, relating to, or used in competition on the flat <a flat horse>
13 of a universe : having a mass such that expansion halts only after infinite time and collapse never occurs

synonyms see level, insipid

— flat·ly adverb

— flat·ness noun

— flat·tish \ˈfla-tish\ adjective